Electrolytic cell.



t PATENTED JAN. 29, i907. UGELGEN.

G. O. .SEWARD @L F. VGN K ELEGTRLYTIC' GBL-L. APPLIUATION NLRB JULY 17., 190s.

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UNITED srafrns PATENT oriuong,

encuen o. sEWARDV AND FRANZ vox KGELGEN, or HoLoonBsfiiof-JK, f vineiria A y. s

- sassi-souris CELL.

Specification of Letters Patent'.

Patented James, i907.

Application Sled 'July 17,1905. Serial No. 269,942.

Taka/ZZ wil/om it' miem cmi/eerie'.- Be it known that we, GEORGE O. SEWARD, a citizen of the United States, and FRANZ lvon KGELGEN, a subject of the German.

Emperor, both residing at Holcombe Rock, in

the county of Bedford and Stateof Virginia,

have jointly. invented certain new and usei'ul' Improvemen ts'in Electrolytic. Cells, of whichthe following' is a specifica-tion.

l This invention .provides van improved partition for use in theelectrolysis of molten saltsv or lwherever-'it may be desirableto interpose -a non-conductive .partition between the anode and cathode, s o that the current is forced to deviate from a straight Vline between' vthe electrodes. Such a partition is useful' in separating the products of the electrolysis, particularly in separating the anode gases from the separated metaljn the elec- `trolytic production of metals which'have a l( lower specific gravity than their electrolytes.

It has been proposed to form such non-com ductive partitions by chilling a layer of the electrolyte itself against a water-cooled-me-'- tallic curtain, it being supposed that the thin layer of chilled/saltl would prevent the current passing' through such curtain. It is not possible, however, to maintain such layer of chilled electrolyte of sufficient thickness and at a sufficiently low temperature to avoid its conducting a portion of the current from the molten electrolyte to ethe curtain.. When such conduction occurs, the curtain acts as an intermediate electrode and becomes inetticient as a nonconductive partition. This result is most commonly*encounteredwhen using electrolytes of verylow melting-point.

)ur invention overcomes this diculty by using a multiplicity of water-cooled curtains, two being usually sufficient, so supported that there is no 'electrical connection between them. By the provisionoi two or more such curtains `we are able to, insure that a suffi ciently thick coating oi' chilled electrolyte shall be maintained in the space between the curtains, whereby they are effectively insu-.

more) curtains or partitions -with an insulat ing mass or body maintained between them,

whereby the'ltransmission of current from", one `to the other is prevented, so that they cannot act as intermediate electrodes.

Figure 1 of the 'accompanying drawings 'shows an'electrolytic cell embodying our invention in vertical mid-section. Figlis a plan of the conductive partition removed. ig. 3 is a vertical section thereof, showing A the space between the curtains packed with `insulating material. l. g Referring to the drawings, letA designate the electrlytic vessel, which has preferably an -insulating-lining B` init-'s lower part and a conductive lining C, preferably of carbon, at its upper part, adapted to serveas the anode, although other constructions of cell 'and other arrangements of anode may be substituted. AThe vesselA is shown as circular, and in its center is 4 arranged the cathode D. The position of anode and cathode maybe transposed. 1

E is the dynamo or generator, whose ter.- V minals are connected, respectively, to the 'metallic vessel A' and to the cathode D.

Between thev anode and cathode is introduced the non-conductive partition F, which inthe construction shown is made oftwoy tubular. cylindrical Water-cooled curtains F and F2, the former being arranged concentrically Within the latter,- leaving an annular space e of uniform width between them. The curtains F F2 may be made of cast-iron cored out to form a'water space or channel through which; a' circulation of water is main tained to cool them. The two curtains are necessarily 4insulated `from' one another; The curtains may be variously supported; one suitable construction being that shown, wherein they are suspended by pipes b, passi ing up vthrough supporting-bars c, separated .therefrom by insulating bushings d and clamped thereto by nuts or collars e e; The pipes b thusserve both for the physical support of' the curtains and for circulating1 the water which enters each curtain throug one -ci these pipes'and emerges through the other, lwhich is located diametrically opposite, as

shown in Fig. 2. l

, The non-conductive.partition F projects l down into the electrolyte, vpreferably `to a y greater depth than `either the, anode lorA lcathode. By the circulation'of'the water io5 l the hollow curtains arei socooled. 'that 'a' ICO layer of the molten salt constituting, the

- electrolyte is congealed u on them asindiively insulate one curtain from the other,

-and consequently makes the partitionvF as a Whole an insulating or non-conducting partition.

Instead of leavingthe space a open to bel filled by the congcaling oi the salt therein it may be -filled or packed with insulating ma terial, such as lire-clay or asbestos, as indicated at g in Fig. 3. In such case the salt layer f forms upon theouter surfaces ofthe Water-cooled curtains and in'closes the insulating-packing. p

[t is obvious yftllat the mechanical details maybe greatly varied and that ourinvention is not limited to the form or proportions of parte indicated, the embodiment shown and described being only one example, ofthe a'pplication of our invention, although the one )est adapted for use in the electrolysis of molten salts. Our invention is not'liinited in its applic tion to the formation of the partition in circular or cylindrical form,.although this form is preferable.

space between them fi We claim as our invention-'- 1. A non-conductive partition for an electrolytic cell, comprising a plurality of separated water-cooled curtains insulated. from one ani/ther, and the space between them filled with insulating material.

2 vAk non-conductive partition for an electrolytic cell, comprising a plurality of sepai' rated Water-cooledv curtains insulated-.from one anotherand adapted to maintain the solidified layer of the electrolyte.

3. An electrolytic cell having a central and an outer annular electrode., and an intervening tubular non-conductive partition, comprising a pluralityA of tubular Water-.cooled curtains arranged concentrically one Within another, insulated froml one another, and

' the space between them filled withv having insulating material.

In witness whereof we have hereunto signed our naines in the presence of two subsoribing' witnesses.

GEORGE QSEWARD,

'FRANZ V0l\l KGELGEN.- Witnesses: l l

J .,H. WEBB,

GEO. T. LANcAsrER.

ed with a chilled and 

